WORCESTER, Mass. – The Assumption University men's basketball team dropped their first game in nearly a month, as the Greyhounds fell to Southern New Hampshire University 74-69 in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 74, Assumption University 69
Records: Greyhounds (13-13, 9-10 NE10), Penmen (18-7, 15-4 NE10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Penmen got things started quickly, racing to a 9-2 lead, and the Greyhound defense struggled to adjust. SNHU extended that lead to 13-2 at the 14:36 mark, forcing an early timeout from Scott Faucher. The Greyhounds responded better after the timeout, going on a slight 5-0 run to clean up the deficit.  Cal Connelly was putting together a solid first half on his senior day, as he knocked down his second three at the 6:19 mark to keep the deficit within striking distance. Kani Glover started to get going as well, as he knocked down his first basket in the corner and then forced a steal for an easy layup, getting the lead back down to nine with three minutes remaining in the half. A last effort from the Penmen at the buzzer fell short, so the Greyhounds walked into halftime trailing 37-28. 
 
Assumption tried to use the three-ball to get back into it, as Connelly stuck one right out of the halftime. Isiah Gaiter followed it up on the ensuing possession by stuffing a Penmen at the rim, leading to a Glover three in transition to cut the lead to five. All of a sudden, the Greyhounds found their spark. Connelly and Njavan Stewart knocked down back-to-back deep threes, and Gaiter hit a free throw to tie the game up just six minutes into the second half. While Assumption held a one-point lead for a small portion, the Penmen found their groove again, including back-to-back cuts to the basket from Ryan Layman at 9:50 to go on a six-point run and grab a seven-point lead. Southern New Hampshire began to get into foul trouble, which hurt their offensive flow and gave the Greyhounds an avenue back into the contest. Assumption started to step on the gas, as a deep Stewart three at 2:02 gave them a one-point lead and all the momentum in the gym. The Penmen responded with some plays of their own, including getting a big defensive stop followed by a make to go up 70-68. Assumption had two attempts at a three at the end to tie it but couldn't connect and was forced to foul. SNHU put the game away at the free throw line and picked up a hard-fought victory in Worcester, 74-69.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Isiah Gaiter paced the Greyhounds with 19 points, Cal Connelly added 18, and the duo of Kani Glover and Njavan Stewert each recorded 16 points.
• Both sides pulled down 37 rebounds, but SNHU outscored Assumption 32-22 in the paint.
• The Greyhounds stuck to their name, scoring 14 points on the fast break, while the Penmen had four.

UP NEXT

• AU at Southern Connecticut, Tuesday, February 21, 7:30 pm
• SNHU vs. Saint Michael's, Tuesday, February 21, 7:30 pm

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